Op-Ed: 'Cleaning Fairy' defends entering homes without permission

Westlake
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Last month a woman was arrested in connection with breaking into a home, not to steal anything, but to clean it without the owners' permission. Now she's indicating she didn't do anything wrong.

In May, Digital Journal reported on a case where a woman took it upon herself to enter a stranger's home, do some cleaning, and then leave a bill for services rendered.

She entered a Westlake, Ohio, home and cleaned it while one of the family members was asleep upstairs. She left a bill for her services, scribbled on a napkin, charging the family $75.

Susan Warren, the woman dubbed in the media as the "Cleaning Fairy", was brought into police custody in connection with entering the family's home and charged with burglary. She was released on $5,000 bond after spending two weeks in jail.

Media reports indicated she had an earlier trespassing charge for a similar offense.

Now the woman is defending her actions and, after her arrest, pleaded not guilty in an Ohio court.

According to KSLA, Warren says she was not committing a crime, but "doing a good deed."

"I needed to make some money, I figured maybe I was doing them a favor," Warren said. "Burglary, I'm being accused. I'm being charged with burglary. I didn't break in."

“I opened the front door, but that was all I did,” she noted.

Reporter Dan Deroos asked Warren why she thought her actions didn't equate to burglary and she replied because "I didn't take anything."

She indicated to Deroos she doesn't think she should be charged, but if so, should only be charged with trespassing.

Fox News reported Warren said, “I never stole anything! I left a bill on a napkin, which I admit, was very unprofessional. I get that. I just needed money.”

According to the Financial Post, the "cleaning fairy" allegedly entered two other homes, but charges were not filed.

Reportedly, Warren is surprised at the attention her case has gotten, and she says that this publicity has ruined her (presumably legitimate?) cleaning business. She "can't seem to comprehend why she is facing charges," reported Fox.

“That’s how business works in this country. I mean, some people want a piece of paper to look at, they want an invoice, they want a bill. I couldn’t find a piece of paper and I sure as hell was not going to go through their personal things,” said Warren.

Apparently, it's not OK to go through personal things, but perfectly acceptable to walk into the home of another, and touch their things to clean them without permission? Aside from all that, last month when the story broke, the family said she really didn't even do much cleaning to warrant the $75, even if hired to do the job.

As she defends her behavior, Warren feels the homeowners still owe her the $75 for straightening up the residence.

This opinion article was written by an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not necessarily intended to reflect those of DigitalJournal.com